It's Hard to Breathe

Meetings

The next day at school was slightly off, things being different between her and Fintan. He seemed to do something different every time he looked at her, them sharing mutual respect. During lunch, they always sat in the corner and made plans for the future.

Some students began to notice the appearance of a smirk at the corners of Fintan's and Gisela's mouths. They were always withing a few feet of each other most of the time, and constantly passed notes and whispered. By Wednesday, they were well aware that people were watching them, but all rumors had been crushed by a frightening Gisela.

After school, Gisela slipped into the library, and went to Row 2 in the nonfiction section. It was 4:14. One minute later, Gisela heard footsteps. She hid behind the shelf, and observed Fintan opening a random book and pretending to read it. 

Smirking to herself, Gisela crept up on the male, and snatched his book.

He jumped a foot high, and spun around in shock.

Gisela smirked, now pretending to read the book.

"Fantasy, Pyren? Seriously? Next time you grab a random book and pretend to read it, choose a horror novel or something better."

Fintan flushed, then yanked the book back, and shoved it on the shelf in a random place.

"I wanted to meet you here because-" He stopped abruptly, then made a 'continue talking' motion while he snuck away.

"Why did you call me here again?" Gisela asked.

She mimicked Fintan:

"Because I want to talk to you about something."

In a row over, Fintan smirked to himself. Gisela was really good. As he rounded the corner, he spotted Gethen, Trix, Ruy, Circ, Alvar, Brant, Glimmer, and Umber eavesdropping on Gisela.

He casually slunk up behind them, and asked, "So, what's going on?"

Everyone spun around with slightly guilty looks, as Fintan raised his eyebrows.

"If you're trying to spy on us, you can do better then that." He stated smugly.

"Yeah," Gisela added, appearing behind them, and winked at Fintan over Brant's head.

She headed for the door, tossing "See you at my house in half an hour. You don't want to be late, so you better not be." at Fintan before vanishing beyond the doors.

"Oooooooooh." Half of the people gathered in the library chorused.

"It's a date," Ruy sang, only to be elbowed by Fintan.

"No, it's not." He contradicted, glaring at Ruy.

"Fin-tan and Gis-ela sitting in a tree," Glimmer started. Everyone joined in, "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!"

"Shut up, all of you!" Fintan thundered, stomping on Glimmer's foot.

"It isn't like that at all." He added in a softer voice.

"Then what is it like?" Gethen pressed, wanting an answer badly.

"None of your business." Fintan snapped, getting even more infuriated.

"Now, I'm leaving." He marched out of the library, letting the door slam shut-but not before he heard Brant shout after him, "It's a hot date, Fintan! Enjoy it!"

Everyone else erupted into laughter as the door shut firmly.

Alvar ran up to Fintan outside, and asked him to give a note to Gisela.

When Fintan unrolled it, the note read, Fintan is in love with you.

Fintan crumpled the note up, then threw it into a waste basket.

Just as he about to punch Alvar, the boy ran off to the library, cackling away.

Fintan snarled to himself, then set off outside down the sidewalk to his house in sullen fury.

Arriving at his house a few minutes later, he changed into a more comfortable outfit, then swiped another scroll from his dad's locked office, easily picking the lock. 

Checking himself in the mirror to make sure he looked presentable, Fintan sauntered out of his front door, and set off in the opposite direction, toward Gisela's house.